Home invasions in Rochester, Rochester Hills keep law enforcement busy

Law enforcement officials have been keeping busy in the Rochester area, as three home invasions in Rochester -- and one in Rochester Hills -- have occurred within a week.

In Rochester Hills, two teens have been arrested and arraigned for their suspected involvement in a break-in on the 1700 block of Ridgecrest.

Bradley Borkosky, 17, and James Kemp, 18, were recently arraigned in Rochester Hills' 52-3 District Court on two counts of home invasion, a 15-year-felony.

Borkosky remains jailed on $25,000, 10 percent bond, while Kemp was released on a $10,000 personal bond. No preliminary exam date has been set yet for the Oakland Township teens.

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According to a release from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, detectives continue to working with neighboring communities to find out if this burglary is connected in any way to other home invasions in Oakland and Macomb counties.

A trio of burglaries also is under investigation in Rochester that were reported last week and over the weekend.

From March 21 to 24, the Rochester Police Department responded to three reported break-ins, according to a release from Chief Steven Schettenhelm.

The three, in neighborhoods of Pondside, Ramblewood and Chase, were broken into when someone most likely forced their way through the windows of the homes, said Schettenhelm.

Jewelry was taken from the homes, and seems to be the target of all the burglaries, Rochester officials report. Detectives and evidence teams continue to investigate evidence found at each of the homes to hopefully identify the suspects.

Rochester's Schettenhelm and Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard offer some precautions to take to ensure your home is safe from intruders.

"It all comes down to being a good neighbor," said Schettenhelm. "It's always good to keep your doors, garage doors and windows locked at all times ... and especially with schools' spring breaks coming up."

Exterior lighting is an excellent crime prevention tool, he said.

"Residents should contact their local police department if they notice any suspicious persons or vehicles in the area," Schettenhelm added.

Both the Oakland County Sheriff's Office and the Rochester Police Department have programs and extra patrols designated for those going on vacation for an extended period of time. Residents who live in jurisdiction of the sheriff's office can fill out a form at oakgov.com/sheriff/Documents/house_check_form.pdf and send it to ocso@oakgov.com. Rochester residents can call the department to take advantage of the similar Vacation Watch program at 248-651-9621.

Sheriff Michael Bouchard urges residents to make your home look occupied and difficult to break into by following the tips below.

o Use motion sensitive lights on the exterior of your home.

o Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.

o Keep your garage door, exterior doors and windows locked even when you are home.

o If you do leave your windows open, use a locking device to prevent it from being opened all the way.

o Install special track locks on sliding glass doors and windows to prevent them from being forced or pried open.

o Be sure valuables in your home are not visible from the street. Use blinds and drapes on windows to conceal these items.

o Trim trees and shrubs near doors and window to limit hiding places close to your home.

o If going on vacation, have a trusted neighbor pick up your newspapers and mail so these items don't accumulate and alert burglars of your absence. Arrange for them to keep an eye on your home, even taking care of mowing the lawn.

o If you see a vehicle or someone who is loitering around the homes in your area, call your local police.

o Leave lights on when you go out. If you are away for an extended period of time, connect your lights to automatic timers.